More than 30 visitors enjoyed a very nice, leisurely stroll around River Barge Park during Sunday morning’s First-Sunday-of-the-Month walk with the BCAS. We saw some great birds including Great Black-backed Gulls  and Double-crested Cormarants from the Park’s promendade while taking in a cool breeze off the Hackensack River, as well as egrets and sandpipers. The group then moved to the edge of the Richard P. Kane Natural Area near the education pavilion where we spied a Peregrine Falcon in the distance. Shots above courtesy of Joe Koscielny.

Don’t forget: the Second-Tuesday walk isn’t actually a walk at all – it’s our yearly Birding By Boat trip. We’ll go out on NJSEA Pontoon Boats on the Hackensack River. The river provides a unique, up-close vantage point from which to see peregrine falcons, ospreys, northern harriers, and various egrets and herons. Note: Photographers welcome, but no tripods. There is limited seating for the boat rides and you must pre-register and pre-pay ($15 per person). Reserve your seat now by calling 201-460-4661. See you out on the water!